Article by Matt Schmitt (Q20)

QUEST never fails to provide a memorable experience for each student involved with the program. When considering alumni who give back to the program, as a current student I wonder what made the experience so worthwhile. I realize it is the strong community environment that is at the heart of the program, encouraging growth as a person and as a working professional.

Alumni are becoming an increasingly vital part of that community. Through their support of groups, such as the QUEST Student Organization (QSO) and myriad social and networking events, alumni are giving back; recognizing how the QUEST experience benefited them while enriching opportunities for current students. “Alumni who donate are saying, ‘This is a program I believe in. It has taught me vital skills that have helped me in my career and I want current students to share in my experience,’” QSO’s Alumni Chair Dulany Wagner said.

Keeping former QUEST members connected with the program past graduation increased as a program focus in 2009. An alumni initiative was launched to pull these former students back into the multidisciplinary program that enriched their college experiences. The result has been a gradual rise in alumni involvement, including an increase in financial giving.

There is no better example of this idea in action than the QUEST 20th Anniversary Celebration this past spring. The effectiveness of the alumni initiative was put on display as members from each of the 20 cohorts came out to show how much the program meant to them. Financial contributions enhanced the quality of the event with the first-class dinner and jazz band music during the cocktail hour, both supported, in part, by generous gifts from alumni and parents.

In recent years, alumni have contributed as much as a third of QSO’s total budget, which has as its primary goal of bringing together cohorts past and present through social outings. “Alums should see donating as a way of paying it forward, so that future cohorts have the same great opportunities that they had,” said QSO President Sara Bleistein.

So far this year, QSO teamed up with the QUEST Alumni Board to host a homecoming tailgate that brought together the QUEST community to root for Maryland football. On the upcoming schedule for QSO is the QUEST Formal on November 15th. The event was a huge success last year and organizers are aiming for an even bigger and better event this year.

Q20’s Steve Barbagallo, who is on the planning staff for the Formal, sees the occasion as “a great way to get to know the fellow cohort members in an environment outside of the classroom.” Later in November, the competitive spirit in everyone will be put on full display at QUEST Laser Tag, another QSO initiative.

Alumni support has also become part of the traditional Senior Send-Off where graduating cohort members reflect back and celebrate their time in the program. Stories are told, honors (both merit-based and comical) are awarded, and a good time is had by all. Last year, the private event was held at Ledo Restaurant and fully sponsored by an alumnus who stated “I gave money for the Senior Send-Off because I am interested in building more traditions in QUEST that cohorts across generations can share. This tradition in particular is one of the last memories that students may have of the QUEST program in their undergraduate years, and I want to make it a great memory.”

With new signs of alumni support everywhere, students and faculty are increasingly recognizing the importance of a strong alumni base, and how QUEST graduates are now making a difference even after they have left the program.

Donations “create chances to grow and opportunities to make connections,” said former QSO President and Q16 member Ryan Ganser. “Overall, it makes QUEST a better, stronger community.”

Article by: Margaret Zheng (Q19)

This summer, we all watched in awe as Team USA competed in the Olympic and Paralympic games. On Thursday, September 13th at the Riggs Alumni Center, Deloitte and the U.S. Olympic Committee gave students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with three olympic medalists: soccer player Abby Wambach, swimmer Cullen Jones, and Paralympic swimmer Mallory Weggemann.

Margaret (second from left) with members of Team USA

As a former Deloitte intern, I was fortunate enough to also attend a Green Room reception prior to the main event. What surprised me the most was how approachable the athletes were. I spent the summer cheering on the US Women’s National Team during every soccer match, so I was undeniably starstruck when I shook Abby Wambach’s hand and started a casual conversation. She was humble, relatable, and even grateful that so many students took interest in her story. Throughout the night, the Olympians continually reminded us of how similar they are to the average student.

Paralympic swimmer Mallory Weggemann became a paraplegic following a routine epidural injection when she was 18 years old. She returned to the pool after just three months, broke her first world records later that year, and won her first Paralympic gold medal with a record pace this summer. QUEST has primed us to persevere through any and all obstacles, to stop at nothing to fulfill our passions and dreams; Weggemann’s courage and determination exemplify this mindset. She left us with an important lesson: “Sometimes life changes us, but sometimes we change our own lives.” As student leaders, we must empower ourselves and take initiative in creating the best possible future for our generation through innovation and quality improvement. After all, “it’s up to us to push the boundaries. It’s up to us to take the lead and move forward from there.”

Swimmer Cullen Jones, a gold medalist in the 4×100 freestyle relay, and 2-time gold medalist/soccer phenomenon Abby Wambach shared similar stories of overcoming adversity. Jones’ journey began with nearly drowning as a toddler and has been anything but easy since then; he narrowly qualified for the team and battled extreme doubts from his own coach. However, Jones was relentless in the pursuit of his Olympic dream, asserting, “If you have a goal and you want to reach that goal, you have to plan how you’re going to get that goal.” Wambach referenced the event that served as both her biggest disappointment and motivator—her team’s loss in the 2011 World Cup. When the US and Japan met again this summer, losing was simply not an acceptable option for Wambach. QUESTees can certainly relate—we don’t fear challenges… we anticipate them, we prepare for them, and we defeat them with a clear plan of attack. We don’t settle for the status quo, and we’re willing to take risks or get our hands dirty if it means we can reach a higher level of excellence.

We don’t need to be Olympians to “go for the gold”. It all comes down to allowing our drive to outweigh any challenges we face in our daily lives. Weggemann, Jones, and Wambach reminded us that they, too, had humble beginnings but are successful because they will stop at nothing to achieve greatness. Who’s to say that we can’t do the same?